Cargo airplane



A. O. TAYLOR CARGO AIRPLANE May 18, 1948.

Filed Nov. 7, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR.- /dmsfon, 7y/0r, 'BY A m ATTORNEYS.

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ATTORNEYS.

A. O. TAYLOR May 18, 1948.

CARGO AIRPLANE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 7 1944 a xiii@ 76 Wl 22 7V@ lfmon joz; M W

ATTORNEYS.

5 Shets-Sheet 4 Nb r, F n f 0L 0 Z C C Wm: Km: fk. E WM c m mw www@ WNNI@ m0. m Nw Nw vf W. n m www m A k M May 18, 1948.

May 18, 1948. A. o. TAYLOR CARGO AIRPLANE l 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Nov. 7, 1944l INVENTOR; /zzlmfozz 0- @[013 BY @aad A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 18.., 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE f CARGO AIRPLANE Alanson 0. Taylor, Lansdowne, Pa.

Application November 7, 1944, Serial No. 562,285

10 Claims. (Cl. 244-118) vv'Ihis invention relates to air craft designed for cargo transport. More specifically, it is con- `cerned with cargo planes in which the fuselage vprovides the freight storage space and is accessible from the front end for introduction and `withdrawal of the lading or ladings.V

In connection with an aircraft of the sort referred to, I aim to secure, through structural improvements such as hereinafter more fully disclosed, the uniform distribution of the load weight in the fuselage with a view towardV avoiding the transmission of strain or strains to other parts of the plane, and at the same time prevent any unbalance likely to cause manoeuvering difficulties incident to night.

A further aim of my invention is to provide a simple and reliable releasable means for positionally adjusting and preventing the shifting of a specially constructed cargo support or container within the fuselage during flight of the plane,

My invention is further concerned with facilitating the placement and retraction of an end yclosure or cover nose for the fuselage,'and with Vplane is loaded or unloaded fromv a platform at a vlanding eld or airport.V

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View on a larger scale showing a Vertical longitudinal section of the fuselage.

Figs. 5 and 6 are a horizontal and a cross-section ofthe fuselagetaken as indicated respec-` tively by the angled arrows V-V and VI-VI in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a larger scale fragmentary detail sectional view of the portion within the dash-anddot rectangle VII in Fig. 4,`showing the juncture of the retractable cover nose with the open end vofthe fuselage and one of the units of the locking means arranged for release by electrical actuation.

Fig. Sis a cross section of the locking unit taken 2 as indicated by the angled arrows VIII-VIII in Fig. 7.

Fig.r 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7 showing a modified form of locking unit arranged for mechanical operation.

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of a removable support or containerfor the cargo or freight to be carried in the plane.

Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 respectively show the top plan and a cross section of the support or container. y

Figs. 13 and 14 are detail views in plan of two of the components of the support or. container.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the bottom of the fuselage in longitudinal section showing the means for securing the cargo container against shifting during the ight of the plane. y Y l i Figs. 16 and 17 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. 4 and 6 showing an alternative fuselage cover nose construction.

Figs. 18 and 19 are fragmentary sectional views of alternative details to be later described.

The plane illustrated in Figs. l1--3 for convenience of exemplication herein has two powered propelling units I mounted on its main` or left wing 2 adjacent the forward edge of the latter and respectively to opposite sides of a centrally located fuselage 3 of square cross section which has a retractable cover nose yll, .closing its open front end. At the rear end of the fuselage 3 is a Vtail structure 5 with suitable horizontal and lateral directional flight-controlling vanes Bland 1, and aft of the storage space within the fuselage is a compartment with an upwardly projecting transparent hood 8 for the plane pilot. For the purposes of loading and unloading, a platform 4such as indicated at P in Fig. 3 is provided at the landing eld orY airport, and a tractor T used to insert or withdraw the cargo container, .illustrated in Figs. 10-12, into or from the open end of the fuselage 3 after retraction or removal of the cover nose 4.

The wall sheeting Ill of the fuselage 3 (Figs. 46) is preferably welded or 'otherwise i'lxedly secured to a skeleton framework comprising longitudinaly-spaced ribs Il of channel section formed from light but strong sheet metal, and suitably spaced longitudinals l2 which are similarly fashioned to channel section from similar metal, and

likewise preferably welded to said ribs. Fitted into the open front end of the fuselage 3 in accordance with my invention is a reinforcing ring frame I3 which is of irregular cross section,l see Fig. 7,'havlng a horizontal perimetric flange i5 which may be molded or pressed from plastic mav 'pose th'e solenoid-coils 36- of the several locking terial. As shown the lip I9 is rounded as at 2l and tapered for capacityto readily enter the.VY

perimetric interspace I8 incident 17o-application of the cover nose 4 which in this instance is completely removable from the fuselage 3. The outer; slope 22 of the lip I 9 is slight and so arrangedastm,

'the cover nose 4 in place comprises a plurality of locking units 25 which are located at intervals around the ring frame I3, one of them being illustrated to thebest advantage in Figs. 7 and 8. As shown, each such locking unit has a cylindric housing 26 which' Vis closed at one end and threaded externally Vof its openl end as at 27 for securement within a. tapped hole in the flange I l of the ring frame I3. inthe open end of ,the housing 2S is a latch-bolt 28 which is yieldinglyurged outward by a helical compression spring 29. 'I'he extent ,of protrusion of the .latch-bolt 28 is AVlimited th'rough engagement of a lateral lug .or key 3l! thereonwith one end of a longitudinal sloto'r keyway 3i inter-V nallyof therhousing 26, the means just described also preventing saidbolt from turning in its housing. 'The .outerendoi the bolt 28 is roundedly beveled as at 32 towardgits inner side 33 (as that. when screwed, home, a circumferential position will be determined for the housing such that the slotY 3l will be definitely located, vas shown,

notch' 35.- Incident to entry of the lip I 9 into the perimetric interspace I 8 vas thecover nose 4 is applied, the relatively sharpslope 23 will coaet by camming action with the rounded bevel 32 uof `thebolt 28 andV Vdepress the latter until said notch becomes aligned therewith, whereupon said bolt will Vbe immediately forced outward into locking position by its spring 29. The same action will, of course, concurrently take place in the other locking units .25 around the frame I3, the

locking. ofthe cover nosev 4 to the fuselage thus takingwplace. automatically .as said noseisapplied... Inthisconnection it. is tobe observed that through reaction of the slightly inclined surfaces .33 of `the bolts 28 ofthe several units 25 with the correspondingly sloped surfaces of the notches 35j, the Vcover nose 4 is urged inwardly toward its V,final closed. position and there securely held against the possibility of becoming detacheddur- Guided for axial movement l.with thebolt 28 accurately coordinated with the ing ight ofthe plane.l Ordinarily" eight of the units 2liV suitably 'allocated' around the Yframe I 3 4 will suffice for securing a completely detachable cover nose 4. The number may, however, be varied depending upon the size of the fuselage 3. Disposed within the bottom of the housing 26 of each' locking device 25 is a solenoid-coil v36 which upon being energized, by influence upon the reduced axial armature stemr of the bolt 28, Will overcome the force ofthe spring 2 9 and withdraw said bolt .from the notch` 35 in the lip I3 of the cover nose 4, the leads 38 from said coil passing outward through insul'ation-bushed holes 39 in the base of the housing 26. In practice I inter- "units 25 in a single energizing circuit with a control switch, which latter may be located at any Vconvenient point on the plane, as for example in thecontrol' compartment for the pilot. Thus with thearrangement just described, the bolts 28 of the several locking units 25 may be simultanecusly actuated to release the cover nose 4Vfor ready withdrawal. In the event of failure'of .the

Vsolenoid 36 in any of the units 25, th'e bolt Y28 may be depressed by means'of a rod, or other similar instrument or tool, inserted into Vregistering apertures such as shown atil inthe extended portion of the fuselage sheeting III and in the lip I3 of the cover nose 4. Y f

The alternative' form of locking deviceillustrated in Fig, 9, is devoid of a solenoid, andarranged solely for 'mechanical retraction. Instead its bolt' 26a is'provid'ed with a transverse bore 4I in which an outwardly spring-pressed plunger 42 is lodged, said plunger being adapted to enter a hole 43 in the side Wall Vof theh'ous'ing 26a of the unit 25a when the plunger-(I2V is'depressed by a rod or instrument Vthrust through theaperture 4i) Vto releasably hold said plunger in retracted position. Retainment of the plunger 42 is Vinsured by a disk '44 whichV closes the hole'43 and which h'as asmaller central aperture for insertion of another suitable rod or tool to depress the plunger 152 for subsequent release of the bolt 28a to the action of its spring 29a preparatoryto the application of the cover nose 4 to the 'fuselage 3.

In al1 other respects the alternative locking'device of Figc? is Videntical `with that of Fig. 7, wherefore, inorderV to preclude the necessity for repetitive description, all similar parts have been designated by the same reference numerals, previously employed, except for the addition of the letter a in each instance for the purposes of ly to th'e vertical in a direction forwardly from top to bottom, Ythelip ISD of` said cover noseV being arranged to overlap the horizontally protrudingY perimetric flange IIb of the reinforcing ring frame I3b at the entrance into the fuselage 3b. The locking units indicated at 25o and suitably spaced along the sides and the bottom portion of the frame |319 may forms shown in I"igs.,'l and 9.V

The provisions which I have made for reception of the vcargo and preventing itsshifting in the plane during flight include a support in the form of a container Vwhich is illustrated Vin detail in be of either of the Figs. lil-l2 and there comprehensively indicated Yunique construction,

by the numeral'l.y As shown, this container 69 has a bottom in the form of a skid 8l with laterally spaced invert channel-section longitudinals 62 whereof the ends are upturned as at 63 and connected by angle-section cross-members 65, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced tubular intermediate cross-members 66 overlying said longitudinals. In turn overlying the intermediate cross-members 66 is a longitudinally corrugated floor 61. InA practice theserparts are all fashioned from thin and light, but nevertheless strong, sheet metal and rigidly secured to each other preferablyby welding. Disposed at intervals along the longitudinals 62 within the channel hollows of the latter arecircumferentiallygrooved rollers 68 for engagingltrack rails 69 (see Figs. 4-6) affixed to a floor. sheet 18 ofthe fuselage 3 which sheet in turn is xedly secured to and supported by the bottom portions of the ribs Il. The side walls of the container 60 are of open construction, having upper, lower and intermediate channel section longitudinals 1I, 'I2 and 'I3 rigidly connected by `end verticals 15 and braced by diagonals 16, said bottom and intermediate longitudinals having theirhollows al1 facing outwardly. Adjacent its ends and atthe center, the bottoni longitudinals 12 of the side frames have laterally extending groups of studs 11, see Fig. 13, for engaging into the ends of corresponding tubular cross-members 66 of the skid 6J as shown in Fig. 11. Except for being shorter, the end walls of the container are generally like the side walls in that they have correspondinglyspaced top, bottom and intermediate longitudinals 18, 19 and 89 as well as bracing diagonals 8 I.

In addition, the end walls are provided with lateral projections 82, see Fig. 14, arranged to engage into the ends of the channel hollows of the side frame longitudinals 'll--'l3, removable pins 83 passed through registering apertures in said projections and said ,longitudinals serving to unite the end frames to the side frames and to keep the studs 'I1 on the latter engaged in the ends of the tubular cross-members 66 of the skid 6I. By reason of the close spacing of the cross members 66 and the use of numerous rollers 68 along the length of the skid 6I, the weight of the load will be uniformly distributed on the bottom of the fuselage 3 with consequent avoidance of the impartation of concentrated strains to other parts of the airplane structure. Due to its' the height of the skid 6I is kept at av minimum and it therefore takes up but a negligibleamount of room. The dimensions of the container 50 are such that it has but very slight side and end clearances within the cargo compartment of the fuselage 3, and moreover since its walls are relatively thin, substantially the entire capacity of said compartment is available for the ladings. As shown in Fig. 3 the container 60 may be connected by a suitable coupling such as diagrammatically indicated at C, Fig. 3, for introduction or withdrawal into or from the fuselage 3 of the airplane by the tractor T, it being understood that the platform P is at the level of the tracks 69 in said fuselage.

Shifting of the container 6D is prevented during flight by the hold-down means intimated in Fig. 15, said means including eye-bolts 85 and 86 which are pivotally connected to lugs 81 and 88 at the front and rearrends of the skid bottom 6IV of said container, and which eye-bolts, are respectively provided with wing nutsv 89 and90.

YThe bolts 85 are arranged for engaging notches in Van upstanding anchorage lug 9I rigidly secured over the edge of the lower portion of the flange `II ofthe reinforcing ring frame I3 at the open end of the fuselage 3, said anchorage lug being formed with an offset 92 which by cooperation with the wing-nuts 89, when the latter are drawn up tight, will prevent the bolts from accidentally rising out of said notches. To the bottom or licor-supporting portion of one of the ribs II of the fuselage 3 at the inner end of the cargo space is similarly secured an anchorage lug 93 with notches to receive the shanks of the eye-bolts 86 and with an offset 94 to prevent accidental upward displacement of said bolts after the wing-nuts have been drawn up tight.

For less than full capacity loads to be delivered at different destinations, I p-rovide smaller auxiliary receptacles 95 of standardized dimensions such as indicated in full lines in Fig. 10 and in dot--and-dash lines in Fig. 1l which collectively ll the container 60 completely so as to be im- -mune against subsequent shifting. When such auxiliary receptacles are used, they are initially arranged in the container in accordance with their individual weights so that the specific gravity center of the load is properly disposed for maintenance of equilibrium of the plane in iiight. Likewise, if necessary, the auxiliary receptacles are rear-ranged after each delivery for a like purpose.

In Figs. 18 and 19, I have shown two alternative for-ms of track rails for the skid bottom 6| of the container 60 either of which may, if desired or found more convenient, be used in lieu of the type hereinbefore described. The track rail 69o has a V-groove designed to receive and retain flangeless rollers 68o on the cargo container. The track rail 69d of Fig. 19, on the other hand, has a rounded groove for reception and retainment of a graphited or otherwise lubricated longitudinal runner 68d at the bottom of the container skid.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. An airplane of the character described having a fuselage which is open at one end to permit introduction and withdrawal of cargo, and which is provided with enveloping wall sheeting; a reinforcing ring frame disposed somewhat inward of the open end of the fuselage and provided with an outwardly-projecting ring liange spaced from the overreaching end of the wall sheeting; a retractable cover nose with a perimetric lip portion adapted to enter the perimetric space between the overreaching edge portion of the fuselage wall sheeting and the flange of the ring frame, said lip portion having its outer surface sloped somewhat to act with a slight wedging action upon the fuselage wall sheeting as the cover nose is applied for the purposes of a weather-tight seal;

and mea-ns for releasably securing the cover nose applied; and with notches in said lip into which said bolts automatically engage when said cover nose attains its final closed position.

3. An airplane having a fuselage with an open- -ing at one end for reception or withdrawal of structed and arranged to simultaneously withdraw the bolts of the several locking deviceswhen itis desired to retract the cover nose.

4. An airplane having a fuselage with an opening at one end for reception or withdrawal of cargo; a retractable cover nose having a lip around its edge for engaging overa perimetric flange projectionat the open end of the fuselage; locking means including a plurality of locking units with outwardly spring-biased latch bolts arranged at intervals around the flange projection aforesaid; cam surfaces on the lip of the cover nose for depressing the bolts as said cover nose is applied; notches in said lip into which said bolts automatically engage when said cover nose attains its nal closed postion; and electromagnetic means operative upon being energized to withdraw the bolts of the several locking units to permit retraction .of the cover nose.

5. An airplane having a fuselage with an opening at one end for reception or withdrawal of cargo; a. retractable cover nose having a lip varound its edge for engaging over a perimetric flange projection at the open end of the fuselage; locking means including a, plurality of locking units with outwardly spring-biased latch bolts arranged at intervals around the ange projection aforesaid; cam surfaces on the lip of the Vcover nose for depressing the bolts as said cover nose is applied; notches in said lip into which said, bolts automatically engage when said cover nose attains its final closed position; and holes extending through the lip of said nose to the in-V dividual notches for insertion of a rod or theY like to' inwardly displace the bolts when it is desired to retract said nose.

6. An airplane having a fuselage V.with an opening atV one end'for reception or withdrawal of cargo; a retractable cover nose having a lip around its edge for engaging over a perimetric ange projection at the open end of` the fusedepressing the bolts as `said covernose is applied; notchesfin said lip into which said bolts automatically engage when said cover nose attains-its final closed position;` holesV extending through said lip to the individual notches for insertion of a rod lor the like to inwardly displacevthe bolts when it is desired to retract said nose; individual housings enclosing Y the bolts and outwardly spring-biased plungers disposed in a transverse bore in each bolt; and a lateral hole in eachhousing into which the Vplunger engages wh-en the corresponding bolt is depressed to temporarily so hold such bolt until thecover nose is retracted, and through which a rod may be inserted to depress said plunger for release of said bolt.

against shifting after it is finally positioned in the. plane comprising I-bolts pivotally connected to theV endmcst cross members ofthe skid, and upstanding lugs atthe floor of the fuselage at the opposite ends Vofthe cargo space providing notches for reception of the swinging ends ofthe I-bolt Shanks and abutment surfaces for the draw up nuts on the bolt shanks.

9.Y An airplane havingra fuselage openvatA one end for introduction and withdrawal of the cargo; laterally-spaced track rails on the fioor of the fuselage for guiding a cargo supporting skidand preventing its subsequent displacement sidewse within the fuselage, said skid including a number of spaced longitudinals with means thereon for engaging the railsV a series of spaced *cross members secured to the longitudinals, and a floor of sheet material supported on said cross members; and a cargo Acontainer of which the skid constitutes the bottom and which comprisesside wall components withlaterally projecting studs along their lower edges for engaging into the ends of theycross members of the skid, end wall components with lateral side Wall projections at intervals of their heightfor engaging over. the ends lage; locking means including a plurality of locking units with outwardly spring-biased latch bolts arranged at intervals around'said iiange projection; cam surfaces on the lip of the cover nose for depressing the bolts 'as saidV cover nose is applied; notches in said lip into which said bolts automatically engage when saidV cover nose attains its iinal closed position; holes extending through the lip of the cover nose tothe individual notches for insertion of a rod orv the like to in- Y wardly displaceY the bolts when it is desired to retract said nose; and releasable means automatically operable as the bolts lare depressed to hold them retracted. Y

Y 7. AnV airplane having a fuselage with an opening at one end for reception or withdrawal of cargo; a retractable cover nose having aV lip tion; cam surfaces on the lip of the cover nose for r of the side wall components, and means for Vre-V leasably securing the end wall components to the .side wall components at the region of overlap of said lateral projections; and holdrrdown means for anchoring the skid against'shifting, after it is finally positioned in the plane. 1

l0. An airplane having a fuselage openV at one end for introduction and withdrawal of cargo; longitudinally extending track rails on the fioor of the fuselage 'for guiding a cargo supporting skid and preventing its subsequent displacement laterally within the fuselage, said skid including a number of spaced longitudinals with lmeans thereonfor engaging the rails, a series ofspaced cross members secured to the longitudinale, and a iioor of sheet material supported on saidy cross members; a cargo' container whereof' the-skid constitutes the bottom and which comprises vern tically spaced outwardly-open longitu'dina'lsand connecting end uprights, theV lowermost longitudinals of said side components having laterally projecting studsengageable into the ends of the cross members, end wall components with .lateral side wall projectionsengageable into the-hollows 9. of the longitudinals of the side frame components, and pins passed through registering vertical apertures in said lateral projections and in the longitudinals of the side components to detachably secure said side and end components; and hold down means for anchoring the skid against shifting after it is nally positioned in the plane.

ALANSON O. TAYLOR.

yREFERENCES CITED The following references are o! record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number ,Name Date 1,122,686 Clark Dec. 29, 1914 1,747,824 Collison Jan. 28, 1930 Number Number 

